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EZRA 8:22

"THE GOOD HAND OF OUR GOD"

I. "THE HAND OF OUR GOD IS UPON ALL THEM FOR GOOD WHO SEEK HIM."
        A. Seeking God is the only requirement.
                1. Surprising how few people really seek God.
                2. Seek security, pleasure, happiness.
                3. Jesus said "seek and ye shall find."
        B. Jere. "In the day you seek Me with all of your heart in that day will I be found of
           you."
        C. Just who are what are you seeking first today?

II. 7:28  "I WAS STRENGTHENED AS THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME."
        A. Someone said, "Jesus is just a crutch."
                1. Of course He is! I lean on Him every day.
                        a. He holds me up.
                        b. He has never let me down.
                2. I have never yet met a man who didn't have a crutch.
                        a. Some lean on the bottle
                        b. Others lean on their family or friends.
                        c. Drugs have become a popular method of coping
        B. What dimension you are adding when you look to God for strength.

III. 8:18  "BY THE GOOD HAND OF OUR GOD UPON US THEY BROUGHT US A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING."
        A. Our needs are supplied by God's hand.
                1. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, by
                    Christ Jesus."
        B. What do you need today?

IV. 8:31  DELIVERED US FROM THE ENEMY.
        A. How beautiful is the delivering hand of God.
                1. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out
                   of them all.
                2. Many are the afflictions of the wicked.
        B. How often David cried for deliverance.
                1. From enemies.
                2. From distress.

V. 7:9  IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH HE CAME TO JERUSALEM ACCORDING TO THE GOOD HAND OF
        HIS GOD UPON HIM.
        A. The journey was long 5 months.
                1. Many hazards.
        B. They arrived safe at their destination.